Exactly... I am also stationed in Germany and if a certain business/company does not want to ship to an APO add... Oh well, move on to the next one. I don't stress about it- for sure I don't see the need to write an essay on it.

Is not an essay! but I bet you wouldn't want to pay double or triple for shipping!!!

I am not going to be shy and say that **********S charged me $450 to ship my wheels and tires to APO. Interestingly there was no price stamp on any forms to show it cost this much. I was also looking to get wheels from Tischer BMW and they quoted me $26.00 per wheel to be shipped. That's $104 for wheels. If I got tires, it probably be another $100, but not $450. I tried to address that with the salesman that it kind of steep for shipping but he stated it's going overseas so it will be expensive. He was only there for me when I was placing the order, but after the order was placed and processed, the customer service was very much non-existent. They might be a sponsor/vendor on this site, but I don't feel I was treated right. One of my friends stationed here with me was looking for wheels as well. He first contacted **********s, and was quoted the same. He said he will not pay this much for shipping, went to EAS and they shipped the same wheels he was looking for, charging only $99 shipping.

I have never paid any extra money for any shipments to my APO add. In fact, most businesses have been very flexible and understanding of my overseas duty status. Just saying... Maybe it's you and the way you approach them.

Hello everyone!!! I'm not trying to start a war with this thread but I think that it is necessary to addressed this a bit. I'm currently stationed in Germany and like me there's tens of thousands more service members all over the world.

I'm a firm supporter of this forum and the sponsors so this is why I purchase everything I need for my cars from here; but there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to shipping to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Firstable it is a Domestic US address! Even though we are in a different country USPS charges domestic rates for shipping.

This is how shipping to those addresses works! You shipped a package thru USPS which is the only and economical way to ship to this addresses, USPS handles the package and ships it out from APO/FPO/DPO HUBS mainly in NY or SF and then handles the package over to the Military Postal Service (MPS) who takes over the package and delivers the package to its final destination. The Military Post office does not charge for flying the package to its destination so we are only paying USPS for delivering to the HUB.
When mailing from APO/FPO/DPO to APO/FPO/DPO it is totally free up to 70 pounds; Only when mailing from APO/FPO/DPO to regular Domestic address is when you have to pay for shipping because is a reverse process. I'm not saying that consumers shouldn't have to pay for shipping but let’s make it fair and not over inflate shipping charges. I'm not singling out any sponsor or private seller just educating so that there be less confusions and more happy buyers. It is a win situation for everyone.

Processing Military Mail
The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on international commercial passenger service and
International cargo service aircraft from New York or San Francisco. When the plane lands overseas, the mail is tendered to the Military. The mail is then handled by Military Postal Service (Civilian) representative and transported to the Military Post Office for distribution to the service member’s unit for delivery to the recipient. The Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) is an extension of the United States Postal Service providing Department of Defense personnel, their family members and other authorized users mail services around the world

APO/FPO addresses are not international addresses. Many businesses feel that because our
Customers reside in a foreign country; military mail goes through an international system. All mail goes through the United States Postal Service at the same rate you would pay for delivery to a US address.

Our military service members and diplomatic personnel work hard for us overseas. Far from home, few things brighten their days more than mail from friends and loved ones. Although for APO/FPO/DPO shipments you pay domestic prices, you’ll need to follow special guidelines.

This should be a sticky!!!

Thanks for the very useful info. I must say there are some pretty good vendors like IND or Tischer BMW that charge very little or nothing at all.

Don't get me started on **********s. I'll never buy from them again. My front lip couldn't be shipped via USPS because of the dimension so they said they would use FedEx which would be the only way to get it so I said ok. Shipping turned out to be $250 until the lip arrived and I had to go off base to meet the TNT driver and escort him on base to deliver since the box wouldn't fit in my car. After he gives me the lip he said I needed to pay 104 euros for customs fees. I had no idea about that and MB certainly didn't mention that prior to the transaction. I called them about it and they basically said tough shit. Over $400 to ship something that took 2 weeks to arrive.

I have never paid any extra money for any shipments to my APO add. In fact, most businesses have been very flexible and understanding of my overseas duty status. Just saying... Maybe it's you and the way you approach them.

Well I guess you must be one of the lucky ones? is not about my approach because I do ask before I buy and just asking for a quote to an APO should be more than enough for them to know that we are in the Armed Forces or family members! before I did the reaserch today I didn't know how the post office charged to APO and I just ordered wheels about a week ago and paid $300 for shipping something that will not happen again; but then again if you know something we don't then share it!

Don't get me started on **********s. I'll never buy from them again. My front lip couldn't be shipped via USPS because of the dimension so they said they would use FedEx which would be the only way to get it so I said ok. Shipping turned out to be $250 until the lip arrived and I had to go off base to meet the TNT driver and escort him on base to deliver since the box wouldn't fit in my car. After he gives me the lip he said I needed to pay 104 euros for customs fees. I had no idea about that and MB certainly didn't mention that prior to the transaction. I called them about it and they basically said tough shit. Over $400 to ship something that took 2 weeks to arrive.

Wow that sucks Bro! This is why USPS is the only way to get anything you buy shipped, because German Customs know that we are duty free and won't even try it cuz of the SOFA Agreement

Don't get me started on **********s. I'll never buy from them again. My front lip couldn't be shipped via USPS because of the dimension so they said they would use FedEx which would be the only way to get it so I said ok. Shipping turned out to be $250 until the lip arrived and I had to go off base to meet the TNT driver and escort him on base to deliver since the box wouldn't fit in my car. After he gives me the lip he said I needed to pay 104 euros for customs fees. I had no idea about that and MB certainly didn't mention that prior to the transaction. I called them about it and they basically said tough shit. Over $400 to ship something that took 2 weeks to arrive.

Was that an APO address that they shipped through FEDEX to? You can claim the custom fees back.

It would be prudent of us to educate the private sellers and businesses that aren't aware of shipping to an APO/FPO/DPO, and how easy it is. I for one shop around quite a bit, will even "buy" something and place it in my "cart" just to see if, during the checkout sequence, the company will offer an APO option. Some do, most don't. That's why IND, Tischer, hell...even Amazon....they all know that if they ship, we will buy. Common sense.

Here's a few things I've learned over my years in service, from Panama to Korea to 3 tours in Iraq and now here currently in Germany.

First: You CAN track a package all the way through to the APO you hold a P.O. Box in. Don't let the ass clowns at the pick up window tell you that you can't...they're being lazy and don't want to get on the computer. All you need is a tracking number originally assigned to your package. Give it to the guys at the window, they can look it up and see when it was scanned in to the APO sort facility, when it left, and when it arrives at your APO. I tracked a time sensitive package all the way through....I was even there when it arrived and actually told them that it was on the truck. They asked how I knew, I said go look...sure enough!

Second: DO NOT EVER PUT A COUNTRY ON THE PACKAGE!! If you put Germany, Afghan, Iraq, England, etc etc...you will have to pay customs fee's...simply because it will get pulled and placed in to the local system.

Third: Yes, there are dimension restrictions per USPS....but an easy way (if the company is willing) is to simply take one box and make it in to 2....problem solved.

** Bottom line is, we as consumer need to educate the companies we deal with. And if they still won't budge, take your business elsewhere.

It would be prudent of us to educate the private sellers and businesses that aren't aware of shipping to an APO/FPO/DPO, and how easy it is. I for one shop around quite a bit, will even "buy" something and place it in my "cart" just to see if, during the checkout sequence, the company will offer an APO option. Some do, most don't. That's why IND, Tischer, hell...even Amazon....they all know that if they ship, we will buy. Common sense.

Here's a few things I've learned over my years in service, from Panama to Korea to 3 tours in Iraq and now here currently in Germany.

First: You CAN track a package all the way through to the APO you hold a P.O. Box in. Don't let the ass clowns at the pick up window tell you that you can't...they're being lazy and don't want to get on the computer. All you need is a tracking number originally assigned to your package. Give it to the guys at the window, they can look it up and see when it was scanned in to the APO sort facility, when it left, and when it arrives at your APO. I tracked a time sensitive package all the way through....I was even there when it arrived and actually told them that it was on the truck. They asked how I knew, I said go look...sure enough!

Second: DO NOT EVER PUT A COUNTRY ON THE PACKAGE!! If you put Germany, Afghan, Iraq, England, etc etc...you will have to pay customs fee's...simply because it will get pulled and placed in to the local system.

Third: Yes, there are dimension restrictions per USPS....but an easy way (if the company is willing) is to simply take one box and make it in to 2....problem solved.

** Bottom line is, we as consumer need to educate the companies we deal with. And if they still won't budge, take your business elsewhere.

It would be prudent of us to educate the private sellers and businesses that aren't aware of shipping to an APO/FPO/DPO, and how easy it is. I for one shop around quite a bit, will even "buy" something and place it in my "cart" just to see if, during the checkout sequence, the company will offer an APO option. Some do, most don't. That's why IND, Tischer, hell...even Amazon....they all know that if they ship, we will buy. Common sense.

Here's a few things I've learned over my years in service, from Panama to Korea to 3 tours in Iraq and now here currently in Germany.

First: You CAN track a package all the way through to the APO you hold a P.O. Box in. Don't let the ass clowns at the pick up window tell you that you can't...they're being lazy and don't want to get on the computer. All you need is a tracking number originally assigned to your package. Give it to the guys at the window, they can look it up and see when it was scanned in to the APO sort facility, when it left, and when it arrives at your APO. I tracked a time sensitive package all the way through....I was even there when it arrived and actually told them that it was on the truck. They asked how I knew, I said go look...sure enough!

Second: DO NOT EVER PUT A COUNTRY ON THE PACKAGE!! If you put Germany, Afghan, Iraq, England, etc etc...you will have to pay customs fee's...simply because it will get pulled and placed in to the local system.

Third: Yes, there are dimension restrictions per USPS....but an easy way (if the company is willing) is to simply take one box and make it in to 2....problem solved.

** Bottom line is, we as consumer need to educate the companies we deal with. And if they still won't budge, take your business elsewhere.

JP..I got to give you props on this one. You mostly talk nonsense in ///M Flight, but these are good tips.

Some of the vendors will give you a so called discount but then take it back or even more on the shipping charges. Like mentioned on one of my replies earlier I paid $300 for shipping on the wheels I ordered mean while the vendor site says $99 US address. We need to stick together on this otherwise they will continue to over charge us on shipping. My wheels have not been shipped yet if by friday they are not then I will call them up and cancel the order and find a different vendor to do busisness with.

You can get FedEx tax free in Germany if you are willing to drive to Frankfurt Airport with a specific tax form (I forget the exact one) and pick it up at FedEx.

I happened to be TDY at Ramstein when the item arrived, got the form from the Air Force tax office and went to Frankfurt on the way back to Bavaria. It was a PIA at the airport as I had find the right access point, pass through a security hut, go to FedEx and pick their up forms, walk over to the Zoll officeto get everything stamped, and then back to FedEx to get the items.

It was a PIA, but the items that arrived were about $7,000 in value and were to big to go USPS, so the tax savings was significant. My understanding is that any package leaving the terminal (UPS, DHL, FedEx) for home delivery generates the need to pay the tax upon arrival, with no forms available to mitigate this.

You can get FedEx tax free in Germany if you are willing to drive to Frankfurt Airport with a specific tax form (I forget the exact one) and pick it up at FedEx.

I happened to be TDY at Ramstein when the item arrived, got the form from the Air Force tax office and went to Frankfurt on the way back to Bavaria. It was a PIA at the airport as I had find the right access point, pass through a security hut, go to FedEx and pick their up forms, walk over to the Zoll officeto get everything stamped, and then back to FedEx to get the items.

It was a PIA, but the items that arrived were about $7,000 in value and were to big to go USPS, so the tax savings was significant. My understanding is that any package leaving the terminal (UPS, DHL, FedEx) for home delivery generates the need to pay the tax upon arrival, with no forms available to mitigate this.

Yeah this is also the process when shipping a vehicle at your own expense! needs to get all the Customs forms stamped and vehicle Reg. Take it to the Zoll after paying 400 Euros for docking fee but that's all.

Exactly... I am also stationed in Germany and if a certain business/company does not want to ship to an APO add... Oh well, move on to the next one. I don't stress about it- for sure I don't see the need to write an essay on it.

Won't write an essay to highlight an issue, but will write a two-line "flame" response to a forum post

Interesting what some are saying about **********s. I've always had nothing but great service from them, though I've not made any large purchases from them while stationed here. Some others that are great are Turner Motorsports, ECS Tuning is excellent for routine maintenance items and OEM parts i.e. oil, filters etc...

Exactly... I am also stationed in Germany and if a certain business/company does not want to ship to an APO add... Oh well, move on to the next one. I don't stress about it- for sure I don't see the need to write an essay on it.

Won't write an essay to highlight an issue, but will write a two-line "flame" response to a forum post

Perhaps because this forum seems to have turned into a "bitching session" forum instead of the very informative venue it used to be.
But hey, at the end of the day, I understand the issue at hand... I just don't think it's such a big deal. That's my opinion... and this being an open forum, I shared it with everyone.